The Kerala Public Records Act, 2025
The Kerala Public Records Act, 2025
The Kerala Public Records Act, 2025, establishes a formal framework for the management, preservation, and disposal of public records within the state. It mandates that government departments and agencies maintain their records systematically, ensuring that documents of historical, administrative, or national importance are preserved in the State Archives. The Act defines the responsibilities of "records officers" in each agency, sets strict rules for the destruction of obsolete files, and creates an Archival Advisory Board to oversee these processes. For citizens, this ensures transparency and the availability of historical data for research, while protecting sensitive government information from unauthorized access or destruction.
Chapter I COMMENCEMENT →
Chapter II PUBLIC RECORDS →
- 3Power of the Government to co-ordinate, regulate and supervise operations connected with administration, maintenance and appraisal of public records
- 4Prohibition against taking of originals of public records of permanent value out of the State
- 5Provided that no such prior approval shall be required if any orginals of public records of permanent value are taken or sent out of State for official purpose.
- 6Responsibilities of records officer
- 7Records officer to take immediate action in the event of unauthorised removal, destruction, etc., of public records in his custody
- 8Destruction or disposal of public records
- 9Power to file case and punishment
- 10Public records classified as confidential or bearing security classification
- 11Receipt of records from private source
- 12Access to public records
Chapter III ARCHIVAL ADVISORY BOARD →
Chapter IV GENERAL PROVISIONS →
PDF: pending for this language.